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FAQs

To request a case balance, or case payment history report, please send a written request to the Clerk's Office Financial Department, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave, Rm. 362, Milwaukee, WI 53202, or email the Financial Department. Case balances are not provided over the phone, and are given only to the defendant or attorney of record for the defendant.

Note: Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, information regarding payments made in criminal cases is not available to the public and may only be provided to the restitution payee (victim), to the defendant, or to counsel of record for the defendant.

My criminal debt is paid in full. How do I obtain a Satisfaction of Judgment?

I am selling my house and the title report shows the US District Court has a lien on my property.

A lien was filed with the register of deeds if you posted a property bond for an individual charged in this court. If you believe the case has concluded, it is likely 1) there was never written request for release of property bond filed with this court; or 2) the Satisfaction of Mortgage was never filed with the register of deeds. For assistance, please contact the Clerk's Office Financial Department at 414-297-3417. You may need to file a written request with the court, along with a Satisfaction of Mortgage, to have the lien released.

The Clerk's Office issues restitution payments to victims once a month. Payments are generated when at least $25 is available for disbursement to a victim. Payments are disbursed pursuant to victim information listed in the criminal judgment. If a defendant is not making payments, restitution checks will not generate in that case. Checks are issued by the US Treasury Department and the check stub will contain case information.

What forms of payment does the Clerk's Office accept?

The Clerk's Office accepts cash, personal checks, business checks, cashier's checks, money orders, and credit cards. For criminal bond, cash or cashier's check are the only accepted forms of payment.

Does the Clerk's Office send a receipt when I make a payment by mail?

If you would like a receipt to be returned to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment.

I am a victim in a criminal case and would like to know how much I am still owed.

Note: Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, information regarding payments made in criminal cases is not available to the public and may only be provided to the restitution payee (victim), to the defendant, or to counsel of record for the defendant.

How do I file a lawsuit?

The first step in filing a lawsuit is to write a complaint. A complaint is a written statement in which you set forth the facts of your case and state what you would like to happen or what relief you are seeking. You must submit your complaint to the Clerk of Court’s office and either pay a $400 filing fee or seek permission from the judge to proceed without pre-paying the filing fee.

If I cannot afford the filing, can I still file a lawsuit?

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may ask the judge for permission to proceed without prepaying the filing fee. This is called petitioning the court to proceed in forma pauperis. You must submit a “Request to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and/or Costs.” This form is available at the Clerk of Court’s office or on the court’s website. After you submit the completed form, the judge will review the information you provide to determine if you can pay the filing fee. If the judge determines you can pay the filing fee or part of the filing fee, the judge will order you to do so. If the judge determines you cannot pay the filing fee, you will be allowed to proceed with your lawsuit without prepaying the filing fee. For a list of filing fees, please click here .

How do I serve my complaint on the defendant(s)?

Once you pay the filing fee, the Clerk of Court will provide you with instructions on how to serve the defendant(s). This includes providing each defendant with a copy of the complaint and either (1) a Summons or (2) both a Request to Waive Service of Summons and a Waiver of Service of Summons forms, both are found in our forms directory. If you were granted permission to proceed without prepaying the filing fee, the United States Marshals will serve the defendant.